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US5452719A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Multiple electrode myographic probe and method

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-07-14
•
Granted: 1995-09-26
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Expires: 2013-07-14
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Abstract

Abstract A method for evaluating the function of the muscles of the pelvic floor of a human patient simultaneously measures myographic signals for proximal and distal muscles of the anal canal or the like by means of a first and second electrode pair displaced along an insulating support fitting within the anal canal. The depth of insertion of the insulating support is controlled by a stop which may include a pair of wings extending substantially perpendicularly from the insulating support for being received and held by the buttocks. The wings also control the orientation of the electrodes within the canal.

Inventors

  • 👤 Eugene Eisman
  • 👤 Jeannette Tries

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 23:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/296; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/0507; A61N1/0512

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 126 words
A method for evaluating the function of the muscles of the pelvic floor of a human patient's anal canal, the canal having an anal verge, comprising the steps of: positioning a first electrode pair near the anal verge for receiving a first set of myographic signals having a time varying amplitude from a distal muscle of the anal canal; positioning a second electrode pair a predetermined distance further within the anal canal than the first electrode pair for receiving a second set of myographic signals having a time varying amplitude from a proximal muscle of the anal canal; displaying the amplitudes versus time of the first and second myographic signals at the same time for a period during a contraction of the distal and proximal muscles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 126 words
A method for evaluating the function of the muscles of the pelvic floor of a human patient's anal canal, the canal having an anal verge, comprising the steps of: positioning a first electrode pair near the anal verge for receiving a first set of myographic signals having a time varying amplitude from a distal muscle of the anal canal; positioning a second electrode pair a predetermined distance further within the anal canal than the first electrode pair for receiving a second set of myographic signals having a time varying amplitude from a proximal muscle of the anal canal; displaying the amplitudes versus time of the first and second myographic signals at the same time for a period during a contraction of the distal and proximal muscles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying occurs at a time substantially simultaneous with the contraction of the distal and proximal muscles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the electrodes of each pair are symmetrically opposed about a center of the canal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying is of such resolution as to indicate changes in the first and second signal occurring during an interval as little as 0.1 seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are placed by the insertion of an insulating member into the canal and wherein the diameter of the insulating member is substantially equal to 0.25 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 141 words
An electrode assembly for myographic measurements of muscles of a canal in the pelvic floor of a human patient, the canal having a canal verge, comprising: an elongate insulating support having a first end for being received in a position at least a predetermined distance into the canal; an electrode pair positioned on opposite sides of the outer surface of the insulating support for receiving myographic signals from an area of the canal; a stop attached to the elongate insulating support means and positioned so that it may remain outside of the canal and abutting the canal verge when the elongate insulating support is positioned so that the electrode pair is near the area of the canal; wherein the stop is a first and second wing extending perpendicularly from the elongate insulating support to be received and held between the buttocks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 141 words
An electrode assembly for myographic measurements of muscles of a canal in the pelvic floor of a human patient, the canal having a canal verge, comprising: an elongate insulating support having a first end for being received in a position at least a predetermined distance into the canal; an electrode pair positioned on opposite sides of the outer surface of the insulating support for receiving myographic signals from an area of the canal; a stop attached to the elongate insulating support means and positioned so that it may remain outside of the canal and abutting the canal verge when the elongate insulating support is positioned so that the electrode pair is near the area of the canal; wherein the stop is a first and second wing extending perpendicularly from the elongate insulating support to be received and held between the buttocks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 45 words
The electrode assembly of claim 6 wherein the wings have a surface contacting the buttocks when the wings are received and held between the buttocks and wherein the surface includes an adhesive material for holding the wings to the buttocks during motion of the patient
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
The electrode assembly of claim 6 wherein the wings extend from the insulating elongate support so that the electrode pair are generally opposed across the patient's midsagittal plane when the wings are received and held between the buttocks.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-09-25 1999-03-27 1999-09-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-09-25 2003-03-27 2003-09-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-09-25 2007-03-27 2007-09-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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